The $2.7 Billion Defamation Suit: Fox Corp. vs. Smartmatic
Fox Corp., the parent company of Fox News, has been denied a motion to dismiss Smartmatic’s $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit by a New York judge. This ruling allows the defamation claims against Fox Corp. to proceed.
Counterclaims of Suppressed Free Speech
However, the judge also ruled that Smartmatic must face Fox’s counterclaims. Fox alleges that the substantial defamation claims are an attempt to suppress free speech.
A Prolonged Court Battle
The court battle between Smartmatic and Fox Corp. has been lengthy and costly. Smartmatic, a voting company accused of election rigging despite being utilized by just one U.S. district in 2020, filed a lawsuit against Fox and some of its hosts and guests in 2021. This case is one of several ongoing lawsuits related to election Conspiracy theories.
Dismissal Denied
Fox lawyers had sought to dismiss the claims against Fox Corp., arguing that the parent company was not legally responsible for Fox News’ coverage. However, New York County Supreme Court Justice David Cohen disagreed with this argument and denied the motion to dismiss, ruling that the plaintiffs had provided sufficient evidence that employees of Fox Corp. played a role in the publication of the defamatory statements.
Allegations of Malice
Justice Cohen also acknowledged the plaintiffs’ allegations of malice on the part of Fox Corp. employees. This was deemed enough to warrant a trial on the matter.
Claims Against Smartmatic
Simultaneously, the judge denied Smartmatic’s motion to dismiss Fox News and Fox Corp.’s counterclaims against them. Fox had argued that Smartmatic’s claims were designed to stifle freedom of speech.
Previous Settlement with Dominion
Last year, Fox Corp. settled similar defamation claims with Dominion Voting Systems, agreeing to pay $787.5 million. However, the judge noted that this settlement would not heavily impact the current case as it was resolved outside of court.
Preparing for Trial
Fox Corp. remains prepared to defend itself in this highly newsworthy case when it goes to trial, likely in 2025. A spokesperson for Fox stated that Smartmatic’s damages claims are implausible and disconnected from reality. They are seen as an attempt to infringe on the company’s First Amendment rights.
Read More of this Story at www.nbcnews.com – 2024-01-25 14:44:56
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